The legislation passed July 31 by the U.S. House is intended to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which held that the time period for filing a pay discrimination claim is triggered at the time the pay decision is made, not upon each subsequent paycheck which carries the effect of the discrimination. The new measure declares that every paycheck resulting from earlier discriminatory decisions based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age or disability would constitute violations. The bill would take effect retroactive to May 28, the day before the Ledbetter ruling.

A White House statement said the bill would allow employees to bring disparate wage claims decades after the alleged discrimination occurs, and that advisors would recommend a presidential veto.